This page is part of the FHIR Specification (v1.4.0: STU 3 Ballot 3). The current version which supercedes this version is 5.0.0. For a full list of available versions, see the Directory of published versions
. Page versions: R3 R2

Detailed Descriptions for the elements in the ReferralRequest resource.
| ReferralRequest | |
| Definition | Used to record and send details about a request for referral service or transfer of a patient to the care of another provider or provider organization. |
| Control | 1..1 |
| Alternate Names | ReferralRequest TransferOfCare Request |
| ReferralRequest.identifier | |
| Definition | Business identifier that uniquely identifies the referral/care transfer request instance. |
| Note | This is a business identifer, not a resource identifier (see discussion) |
| Control | 0..* |
| Type | Identifier |
| ReferralRequest.basedOn | |
| Definition | Indicates any plans, proposals or orders that this request is intended to satisfy - in whole or in part. |
| Control | 0..* |
| Type | Reference(ReferralRequest | CarePlan | DiagnosticOrder | ProcedureRequest) |
| ReferralRequest.parent | |
| Definition | The business identifier of the logical "grouping" request/order that this referral is a part of. |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Type | Identifier |
| Requirements | Allows multiple orders to be collected as part of a single requisition. |
| Summary | true |
| ReferralRequest.status | |
| Definition | The status of the authorization/intention reflected by the referral request record. |
| Control | 1..1 |
| Binding | ReferralStatus: The status of the referral. (Required) |
| Type | code |
| Is Modifier | true |
| Requirements | Workflow status is handled by the Task resource. |
| Summary | true |
| ReferralRequest.category | |
| Definition | Distinguishes the "level" of authorization/demand implicit in this request. |
| Control | 1..1 |
| Binding | ReferralCategory: Identifies the degree of intention/authorization associated with the request (Required) |
| Type | code |
| Is Modifier | true |
| Requirements | The same resource structure is used when capturing proposals/recommendations, plans and actual requests. |
| Summary | true |
| ReferralRequest.type | |
| Definition | An indication of the type of referral (or where applicable the type of transfer of care) request. |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Binding | ReferralType: Codes for types of referral; e.g. consult, transfer, temporary transfer. |
| Type | CodeableConcept |
| Summary | true |
| Comments | Examples of referral type: - consultation; second opinion; third opinion - Assume management - Request for procedure(s) HL7 v2.8 Example - Table 0336: S = second opinion p = patient preference o = provider ordered w = work load. |
| ReferralRequest.priority | |
| Definition | An indication of the urgency of referral (or where applicable the type of transfer of care) request. |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Binding | DiagnosticOrderPriority: Codes indicating the relative priority of the referral. (Example) |
| Type | CodeableConcept |
| Summary | true |
| ReferralRequest.patient | |
| Definition | The patient who is the subject of a referral or transfer of care request. |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Type | Reference(Patient) |
| Summary | true |
| Comments | Referral of family, group or community is to be catered for by profiles. |
| ReferralRequest.context | |
| Definition | The encounter at which the request for referral or transfer of care is initiated. |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Type | Reference(Encounter | EpisodeOfCare) |
| ReferralRequest.fulfillmentTime | |
| Definition | The period of time within which the services identified in the referral/transfer of care is specified or required to occur. |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Type | Period |
| Requirements | Use cases: (1) to indicate that the requested service is not to happen before a specified date, and saving the start date in Period.start; (2) to indicate that the requested service must happen before a specified date, and saving the end date in Period.end; (3) to indicate that the requested service must happen during the specified dates ("start" and "end" values). |
| Alternate Names | EffectiveTime |
| Summary | true |
| ReferralRequest.authored | |
| Definition | Date/DateTime of creation for draft requests and date of activation for active requests. |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Type | dateTime |
| Summary | true |
| ReferralRequest.requester | |
| Definition | The healthcare provider or provider organization who/which initiated the referral/transfer of care request. Can also be Patient (a self referral). |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Type | Reference(Practitioner | Organization | Patient) |
| Summary | true |
| ReferralRequest.specialty | |
| Definition | Indication of the clinical domain or discipline to which the referral or transfer of care request is sent. For example: Cardiology Gastroenterology Diabetology. |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Binding | PractitionerSpecialty: Codes indicating the types of capability the referred to service provider must have. (Example) |
| Type | CodeableConcept |
| ReferralRequest.recipient | |
| Definition | The healthcare provider(s) or provider organization(s) who/which is to receive the referral/transfer of care request. |
| Control | 0..* |
| Type | Reference(Practitioner | Organization) |
| Summary | true |
| Comments | There will be a primary receiver. But the request can be received by any number of "copied to" providers or organizations. |
| ReferralRequest.reason | |
| Definition | Description of clinical condition indicating why referral/transfer of care is requested. For example: Pathological Anomalies, Disabled (physical or mental), Behavioral Management. |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Binding | ReferralReason: Codes indicating why the referral is being requested. |
| Type | CodeableConcept |
| Summary | true |
| ReferralRequest.description | |
| Definition | The reason element gives a short description of why the referral is being made, the description expands on this to support a more complete clinical summary. |
| Control | 0..1 |
| Type | string |
| To Do | This would be a good candidate for a 'markdown' data type. |
| ReferralRequest.serviceRequested | |
| Definition | The service(s) that is/are requested to be provided to the patient. For example: cardiac pacemaker insertion. |
| Control | 0..* |
| Binding | Practice Setting Code Value Set: Codes indicating the types of services that might be requested as part of a referral. (Example) |
| Type | CodeableConcept |
| Summary | true |
| ReferralRequest.supportingInformation | |
| Definition | Any additional (administrative, financial or clinical) information required to support request for referral or transfer of care. For example: Presenting problems/chief complaints Medical History Family History Alerts Allergy/Intolerance and Adverse Reactions Medications Observations/Assessments (may include cognitive and fundtional assessments) Diagnostic Reports Care Plan. |
| Control | 0..* |
| Type | Reference(Any) |
| Summary | true |